Google announced today that it it is teaming up with Pottermore, JK Rowling’s new site, which will open up this fall to provide eBook services. The two are partnering to integrate Pottermore with various Google products and APIs.
The Harry Potter book series will launch in eBook form on Pottermore.com in October, and they’ll also become available through the Google eBooks platform. When users buy it, they will be able to keep it in their Google Books library in the cloud (as well as on other platforms).
“Pottermore will be the exclusive place to buy Harry Potter ebooks and digital audiobooks,” says Larissa Fontaine in New Business Development for Google Books. “You’ll be able to buy ebooks from the Pottermore Shop, push them to your Google Books library and store them alongside your other Google eBooks. Your other Google eBooks may be purchased from any of more than 250 independent booksellers or from Google directly.”
“Also under this agreement, Google Checkout will be the preferred third party payment platform for all purchases made on Pottermore.com,” says Fontaine. “When you visit the Pottermore Shop, you’ll be able to pay for your purchases using Google Checkout, in addition to using a debit or credit card.”
Pottermore will also take advantage of Google’s YouTube for global video broadcasts.
Google eBooks can be read on the web, and through apps for iOS and Android, as well as on over 80 e-readers. A new Google eBooks-integrated e-reader from iRiver is being sold at Target, Google announced a couple weeks ago. With this one, you can browse, buy and read Google eBooks with your e-reader through Wi-Fi, rather than downloading and transferring them from computer to e-reader with a cord with other devices.